Information processing apparatus and cellular phone terminal

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an information processing apparatus including a display unit displaying information on a display screen, an operation unit including a text input key, and a control unit. The control unit displays text in response to input from the operation unit in a state of displaying an initial screen on the display screen, shows an application using text to a user for selection, starts up the application in accordance with the user&#39;s selection, and executes the application, using the text inputted from the operation unit.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 14/540,374, filed Nov.13, 2014, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 12/200,989,filed Aug. 29, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,902,166, which is entitled tothe priority filing date of Japanese application no. 2007-227431, filedSep. 3, 2007, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus anda cellular phone terminal having the function of inputting text on adisplay screen.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a small-sized mobile terminal intended primarily to function as atelephone, such as a cellular phone terminal; a function for inputtingtext in various applications as well as inputting a number for making acall is assigned to a numeric keypad (including numerals 0 to 9 andsymbols * and #) commonly equipped thereon. That is, a plurality of kanacharacters and alphabetical letters are usually assigned to each numerickey.

In the past, cellular phone terminals, in the case of operating suchnumeric keys in a standby state after power-on, that is, on a standbyscreen, generally have only functions associated with numerals includinginputting a telephone number for making a call.

On the other hand, Patent Document 1 (JP-A No. 2006-60768) discloses atechnique for retrieving and displaying a desired destination bydepressing a predetermined function key (email key) after inputting akeypad numeric string corresponding to the keyword of the desired emaildestination address on the standby screen of a cellular phone terminal.For example, in the case of searching for “SUZUKI HANAKO”, if numerals“3”, “3”, and “2” corresponding to “SU”, “ZU”, and “KI” respectively areinputted, “SUZUKI HANAKO”, “SASAKI ICHIRO”, and others which correspondto a combination of these numeric keys are retrieved from registrationinformation and outputted as candidates.

Further, Non-Patent Document 1 (Access to various functions by textinput from a standby screen—Tegic “T9 discovery tool”, Internet searchon Aug. 16, 2007URL:http://plusd.itmedia.co.jp/mobile/articles/0702/13/news 070.html)discloses software for quick access to network contents and servicesprovided by menu screens, various applications, contents, andcommunication operators by start-up of a predictive search interfaceupon input of text on the standby screen of a cellular phone terminal.For example, upon input of numerals “6” and “2” assigned to letters “M”and “A” respectively, a mail application (mailer), a mappingapplication, and the like are displayed as a search result. A user canselect a desired application from the displayed applications to start upthe application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the techniques described in Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document1, when a numeric string is inputted on the standby screen as an initialscreen, it is possible to retrieve and output registration informationand applications associated with a character string corresponding to thenumeric string.

However, the above-described techniques are intended to retrieveregistration information and applications (or functions), but are notintended to directly input arbitrary text on the initial screen.

In the case of making a call with a recent cellular phone terminal,there are many cases where a call is originated by using a telephonenumber recorded as an incoming/outgoing call or using a telephone numberregistered in an address book, instead of manually inputting a telephonenumber. On the other hand, communication tools, such as email and Web,which make heavy use of text are frequently and increasingly used.Accordingly, if it is possible to input arbitrary text on the initialscreen, the improvement of operability can be expected.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, andit is desirable to improve the usability of a function accompanied withtext input in an information processing apparatus. Further, it isdesirable to improve the usability of a function accompanied with textinput without impairing the operability of numeric input in a cellularphone terminal.

An information processing apparatus according to an embodiment of thepresent invention includes a display unit displaying information on adisplay screen, an operation unit including a text input key, and acontrol unit. The control unit displays text in response to input fromthe operation unit in a state of displaying an initial screen on thedisplay screen, shows an application using text to a user for selection,starts up the application in accordance with the user's selection, andexecutes the application, using the text inputted from the operationunit. With this configuration, the user can input text directly on theinitial screen by operating the operation unit, select a desiredapplication from displayed applications, and use the text for theapplication.

A cellular phone terminal according to an embodiment of the inventionincludes a display unit displaying information on a display screen, anoperation unit using a numeric keypad as a text input key, and a controlunit. The control unit displays text in response to input from theoperation unit in a state of displaying a standby screen on the displayunit, shows a use application to a user for selection, starts up theapplication in accordance with the user's selection, and executes theapplication, using information inputted from the operation unit.

In the cellular phone terminal, there are preferably provided a textinput area for displaying input information as text and a numeric inputarea for displaying input information as a numeral. The control unitdetermines based on a predetermined condition whether input is numericinput or text input, activates either the text input area or the numericinput area based on a determination result, and uses, for theapplication, information inputted in an activated input area at start-upof the application.

Other configurations and operational advantages of the invention will bedescribed as follows.

According to the invention, the user can perform text input directly onthe initial screen where direct text input cannot be performed in thepast, and can start up a desired application, using the text.Consequently, it becomes possible to improve the usability of a functionaccompanied with text input. Further, a user who frequently uses textinput can use a desired function with a smaller number of operations.

Further, in the cellular phone terminal, it is possible to achieve thefunction of displaying text instead of numerals at the time of operatingthe numeric keypad on the standby screen, and thereby quickly usefunctions other than a telephone function, that is, functions frequentlyused in the cellular phone terminal such as email creation and Websearch. Further, it is possible to prevent impairment of the operabilityof telephone number input by activating the numeric input based on thepredetermined condition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail basedon the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an information processingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an external view of a cellular phone terminal as one exampleof the information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic hardware configuration ofthe cellular phone terminal shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an illustration showing a screen transition example of adisplay unit illustrating a first operation example according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure corresponding to the firstoperation example shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an illustration showing a screen transition example of adisplay unit illustrating a second operation example according to anembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure corresponding to the secondoperation example shown in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an information processingapparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. A dataprocessing unit 101 has a control device such as a CPU (CentralProcessing Unit) (not shown), controls each unit, and performs necessarydata processing. A text input unit 110 has an operation unit including anumeric keypad and various control keys or an operation unit such as akeyboard, and accepts an instruction from a user and an informationinput. A storage unit 120 has a storage device for storing programsexecuted by the CPU of the data processing unit 101 and various kinds ofdata. A display unit 130 includes a display device such as an LCD or anorganic EL, and displays various kinds of information such as text andimages on a display screen to present information to a user. Acommunication unit 140 communicates with external devices, and includesthe function of telephone calls and connections to the Internet.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a cellular phone terminal 200 as oneexample of the information processing apparatus 100 according to thisembodiment. While the cellular phone terminal 200 indicates a so-calledflip phone, the invention is applicable to cellular phone terminals ofany type including a straight type and a slide type. FIG. 2 is a frontview showing an opened flip phone.

The cellular phone terminal 200 has a hinge 18 and also has an uppercabinet 14 and a lower cabinet 25 which are coupled by the hinge 18 soas to be openable and closable. A speaker 12 is disposed on an upperportion of the inside surface of the upper cabinet 14, and a displayunit 16 (corresponding to the display unit 130 in FIG. 1) is displayedon the main portion of the inside surface.

On the inside surface of the lower cabinet 25, a jog dial 20 which is arotatable pressure switch is disposed in the upper center, left andright keys 26 a and 26 b are disposed on both sides thereof, andsoftkeys 17 a and 17 b are disposed on the outer sides. A combination ofthe so-called arrow key and determination key may be used instead of thejog dial 20 and the left and right keys 26 a and 26 b. Under theseoperation keys, a call key 21, a clear key 22, and a power/end key 23are disposed. A numeric keypad 28 (including numerals 0 to 9 andsymbols * and #) (corresponding to the text input unit 110 in FIG. 1) isdisposed thereunder, and a memo key 30 and a manner key 31 are disposedfurther thereunder. A plurality of characters are assigned to each keyof the numeric keypad 28. A microphone 32 is disposed at the lowestportion of the lower cabinet 25.

These specific configurations are merely illustrative examples, and theinvention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic hardware configuration ofthe cellular phone terminal 200 shown in FIG. 2.

The cellular phone terminal 200 includes a control unit 201, acommunication unit 203, a display unit 204, an operation unit 205, astorage unit 206, and a voice processing unit 210 which areinterconnected via a bus 215, and includes a speaker 211 and amicrophone 212 which are connected to the voice processing unit 210.

The control unit 201 corresponds to the data processing unit 101 in FIG.1, includes a CPU and the like, and controls each unit of the cellularphone terminal 200. The communication unit 203 includes an RF unit, amodulation/demodulation circuit, etc., and performs wirelesscommunication for telephone calls, email, WEB data, etc. with a basestation through an antenna 202.

The display unit 204 corresponds to the display unit 16 in FIG. 2, andoperates as described above.

The operation unit 205 corresponds to the text input unit 110 in FIG. 1,has various keys such as control keys and a numeric keypad, and acceptsan instruction from a user and a data input.

The storage unit 206 corresponds to the storage unit 120 in FIG. 1,includes memories such as ROM and RAM, and stores programs such as an OSand various applications executed by the CPU and data. The ROM caninclude a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory.

The voice processing unit 210 includes a voice encoder, a voice decoder,a D/A converter, an A/D converter, and the like. The voice processingunit 210 outputs voice signals to the speaker 211 (including anearphone) and receives voice signals from the microphone 212.

The cellular phone terminal 200 also has the functions of a powersupply, a light-emitting unit, a vibrator, etc. (not shown) which commoncellular phone terminals have. Further, the cellular phone terminal 200may have the functions of a camera and a contactless IC card.

Hereinafter, an operation example according to this embodiment will bedescribed. In this example, when keys for inputting text in anapplication are operated on a standby screen, a text input operation canbe performed before start-up of a desired application and the input textis displayed on the screen.

Input text can be used in various applications. Specific examplesthereof are as follows:

(a) In a state where input text is displayed on a standby screen, anemail creation screen is invoked in response to a one-time operation ora predetermined operation by the user. The input text is automaticallyembedded in a “body” area on the email creation screen. By inputting a“subject” and an “address” and adding a necessary attachment, the usercan transmit email in the usual manner. Further, it is possible to editthe descriptions of the body.(b) In a state where input text is displayed on a standby screen, theinput text is automatically recognized as a search keyword in responseto a one-time operation or a predetermined operation by the user. Byconnecting to a predetermined Web search engine, a search result isdisplayed by a Web browser.(c) In a state where input text is displayed on a standby screen, theinput text is automatically recognized as a keyword in response to aone-time operation or a predetermined operation by the user. By invokinga dictionary application installed in the terminal or connecting to apredetermined online dictionary, a dictionary search result for thekeyword is displayed.

Examples of other cooperative applications are as follows:

-   -   Blog editing and transmission    -   Chat function    -   Search for contents such as email, images, music data in the        terminal    -   Functions and applications that the user wants to use, and        setting menu search

FIG. 4 shows a screen transition example of the display unit 204illustrating a first operation example according to this embodiment.While the example of FIG. 4 illustrates the display screens of thecellular phone terminal, the first operation example is not limited tothe cellular phone terminal and can be applied to an arbitraryinformation processing apparatus. That is, the operation unit does notnecessarily require a numeric keypad for text input.

A screen D11 indicates a standby state after power-on, that is, aninitial screen. In the case of the cellular phone terminal, a receptionstatus, a remaining battery level, the date and time, and the like aredisplayed. In this state, when a user operates an arbitrary numeric key,the screen moves to a screen D12. On the screen D12, a text input area41 for displaying input text and a conversion candidate display area 42for displaying conversion candidates are provided, and a character(kana) corresponding to the operation of the numeric key is displayed inthe text input area 41. Further, conversion candidates according to theinput situation up to this point are displayed in the conversioncandidate display area 42. In a softkey display area 43, “NORMALCONVERSION” for kana-to-kanji conversion, “CONFIRMATION” for confirminginput text, and “KANA/ALPHANUMERIC” for switching between kana andalphanumeric characters are displayed. These softkeys correspond to thekeys 17 a, 20, and 17 b in FIG. 2, respectively. When the softkey“CONFIRMATION” is operated, the screen moves to a screen D13. On thescreen D13, the conversion candidate display area 42 disappears, andapplication functions (i.e., action candidates) associated with textinputted and confirmed in the text input area 41 up to this point aredisplayed in the softkey display area 43. The example of FIG. 4 includes“EMAIL CREATION” for creating email, “MENU” for showing actioncandidates other than the actions listed in the softkey display area 43,and “WEB SEARCH” for searching for Web contents, as action candidates.Some information processing apparatuses, particularly cellular phoneterminals have dedicated hardware keys for operations such as “EMAILCREATION” and “WEB SEARCH”. This embodiment can achieve the same resulteven in the case of operating the hardware keys instead of the softkeysfor such functions. In this specification, an operation for designatinga specific function directly without “MENU” with either a softkey or ahardware key is referred to as a “direct key operation”.

Further, even after the operation of “CONFIRMATION”, continuous textinput can be performed if there is key input.

When “EMAIL CREATION” is selected on the screen D13, the screen moves toa screen D14. The screen D14 is an email creation screen where the textconfirmed in the text input area 41 is automatically inputted in the“BODY”. The email can be transmitted by adding an address and a subject.

When “MENU” is selected on the screen D13, the screen moves to a screenD15. The screen D15 displays a menu 45 showing action candidatesassociated with the confirmed text. While the example of FIG. 4illustrates “ONLINE DICTIONARY”, “NOTEPAD STORAGE”, “BLOG TRANSMISSION”,and “CONTENT SEARCH”, the action candidates are not limited thereto.

When “ONLINE DICTIONARY” is selected from the menu 45 on the screen D15,the screen moves to a screen D17. On the screen D17, a connection isestablished with a dictionary search site on the Internet, where theconfirmed input text is used as a keyword for translation. A screen D19shows a translation result.

When “WEB SEARCH” is selected on the screen D13, the screen moves to ascreen D16. On the screen D16, a connection is established with theInternet, where the confirmed input text is used as a keyword for searchfor relevant Web sites. A screen D18 indicates an example of the searchresult.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure corresponding to the firstoperation example shown in FIG. 4. This processing is implemented bysoftware processing in the data processing unit 101 of FIG. 1.

After the terminal is turned on, an initial screen is displayed (S11).Then, key input from a user is accepted (S12). If there is key input, atext input screen such as the screen D12 is displayed (S13). If aconversion candidate is selected or confirmed (S14), a text input screenhaving text confirmed such as the screen D13 is displayed (S15). Ifthere is new key input after that or before the confirmation, the flowreturns to S12. As described above, the screen D13 shows actioncandidates relating to functions that can be selected by the user. Ifthere is a direct key operation (S16), and if it is an “EMAIL CREATION”instruction, the screen moves to an email creation screen such as thescreen D14 (S18). If it is a “WEB SEARCH” instruction, the screen movesto a Web search connection screen such as the screen D16 (S19).

If a “MENU” instruction is issued, a menu screen such as the screen D15is opened (S17). If “ONLINE DICTIONARY” is selected on this screen, thescreen moves to an online dictionary connection screen such as thescreen D17 (S20). If “NOTEPAD STORAGE” is selected, the screen moves toa notepad screen (not shown) (S21). If “BLOG TRANSMISSION” is selected,the screen moves to a blog site connection screen (not shown) (S22). If“CONTENT SEARCH” is selected, the screen moves to a data folder searchscreen (not shown) (S23). If another function is selected, the screenmoves to another screen (not shown) (S24).

As described, according to this embodiment, the information processingapparatus 100 accepts text input directly on the initial screen, andthen shows actions associated with the input text to allow the user toselect one. In particular, recent cellular phone terminals have multiplefunctions so that an operation for selecting a desired function isdisadvantageously complicated. However, in the invention, availablefunctions accompanied with text input are displayed in the softkeydisplay area 43 by inputting text on the initial screen, which leads toa simple operation. Further, since the displayed functions are limitedto ones accompanied with text input, the number of choices becomessmaller.

FIG. 6 shows a screen transition example of the display unit 204illustrating a second operation example according to this embodiment.The second operation example is based on an information processingapparatus having a numeric keypad for text input such as the cellularphone terminal 200.

On a display screen of the second operation example, a text input areaand a numeric input area are provided simultaneously. Either the textinput area or the numeric input area is activated on a priority basis,in accordance with a condition. For example, in a state where text andnumerals (numbers) are displayed simultaneously, if a text conversioncandidate is selected by a user's operation, it is determined that theoperation is performed for a text input purpose, and the “text inputarea” is activated on a priority basis.

In the case of text input, when the number of kana characters inputtedin a state of kana before conversion reaches a predetermined number(e.g., seven characters), the corresponding kanji candidate orprediction candidate often does not exist. Accordingly, it can beconsidered that a user often performs a conversion or confirmationoperation at the time of inputting a smaller number of kana characters.On the other hand, in the case where the number of kana charactersconsecutively inputted without a conversion or confirmation operation isnot smaller than the predetermined number, there is a high probabilitythat it is numeric input (i.e., telephone number input). Accordingly, insuch a case, it is determined that the operation is performed for anumeric input purpose, and the “numeric input area” is automaticallyactivated on a priority basis.

A standby screen D21 is an initial screen of the cellular phone terminal200, as described above. In this state, when a user operates anarbitrary numeric key, the screen moves to a screen D22. In thisexample, the user operates a numeric key “7” five times in a row,operates a numeric key “3” twice in a row, and operates a key “*” once.This corresponds to the case where a kana character string “MOJI” isinputted in the cellular phone terminal. On the screen D22, there isprovided a numeric input area (i.e., a telephone number input area) 44as well as the text input area 41, the conversion candidate display area42, and the softkey display area 43. In this operation example, the textinput area 41 and the numeric input area 44 are enabled (i.e.,activated) complementarily. In this example, the text input area 41 isinitially enabled. In this context, to “enable” or “activate” relates tothe use of input information, but does not affect the update ofinformation displayed in the area. That is, even in an input area notenabled, information is updated in accordance with key input. In theexample of FIG. 6, while the text input area is active, updated“7777733*” is displayed in the numeric input area. The enabled area isindicated to the user by a focus 51 (a box around the area in FIG. 6).The indication form of the focus 51 is not limited thereto.

On the screen D22 as well as the screen D12, “NORMAL CONVERSION”,“CONFIRMATION”, and “KANA/ALPHANUMERIC” are displayed in the softkeydisplay area 43.

When the softkey “CONFIRMATION” is operated, the screen moves to ascreen D23. The example of FIG. 6 shows a case where a specificcharacter string is selected from the conversion candidate display area42 and the softkey “CONFIRMATION” is operated. On the screen D23, theconversion candidate display area 42 disappears, and action candidatesassociated with text inputted and confirmed in the text input area 41 upto this point are displayed in the softkey display area 43. The exampleof FIG. 6 shows “FUNCTION”, “MENU”, and “SWITCHING” as actioncandidates.

“FUNCTION” is a softkey for displaying a submenu related to thecurrently activated numeric input or text input. “MENU” is a menu forshowing action candidates associated with the confirmed text.

When “MENU” is selected on the screen D23, the screen moves to a screenD27. The screen D27 displays a menu 46 showing action candidatesassociated with the confirmed text. The menu 46 includes “EMAILCREATION” and “WEB SEARCH”. As described above, a function having ahardware key can provide the same result even when the hardware key isoperated instead of the softkey.

When “EMAIL CREATION” is selected on the screen D27, the screen moves toa screen D28. The screen D28 is an email creation screen where the textconfirmed in the text input area 41 is inputted in the “BODY”. The emailcan be transmitted by adding an address and a subject.

When “SWITCHING” is selected on the screen D23, the numeric input area44 is enabled. That is, as shown in the screen D26, the focus 51 movesfrom the text input area 41 to the numeric input area 44. When thenumeric input is enabled, “MENU” is changed to “ORIGINATION” in thesoftkey display area 43 on the screen D26. By selecting this“ORIGINATION”, it is possible to perform an origination operation withthe numeric string being a telephone number. When a “SWITCHING”operation is performed on the screen D26, the screen returns to thescreen D23 where the text input area 41 is active.

Next, assume that numeric keys “0”, “9”, “0”, “1”, and “2” areconsecutively operated on the initial screen D21. In this case, as shownin the screen D24, kana characters “WARAWAAKA” in the case of beinginterpreted as text input are displayed in the text input area 41. Onthe other hand, a numeric string “09012” is displayed in the numericinput area 44. The focus 51 is set to the text input area 41.Subsequently, a numeric key “3” is operated. At this time, as shown inthe screen D25, a new kana character “SA” is added to the inputcharacter string, and a numeral “3” is additionally displayed in thenumeric input area 44. At the same time, the focus 51 moves to thenumeric input area 44. This is because in the second operation exampleaccording to this embodiment, if input information satisfies apredetermined condition, the numeric input is automatically enabled,that is, the focus 51 is moved from the text input area 41 to thenumeric input area 44.

Conditions for automatically switching from the text input to thenumeric input are, for example, as follows:

(1) A predetermined number of characters or more are consecutivelyinputted to the text input area 41. The predetermined number is, forexample, seven. This is because it can be generally considered thatthere are few cases where such a number of characters are consecutivelyinputted without a conversion operation (including a confirmationoperation). The predetermined number is not limited to seven, and may bevariably set by the user. The number of characters inputted until theexecution of a conversion operation varies with the preferences andhabits of individual users, and variable setting can meet thepreferences of individual users.(2) Numeric keys are operated a predetermined number of times or more ina row. The predetermined number of times is, for example, ten. This isbecause it can be generally considered that there are few cases wherenumeric keys are operated such a predetermined number of times in a rowwithout a conversion operation (including a confirmation operation). Thepredetermined number of times is not limited to ten, and may be variablyset by the user.(3) An input numeric string corresponds to one of the predeterminedemergency numbers (110, 119, 118, etc. in Japan). However, when anumeric string in which a next numeral is inputted does not correspondto one of the emergency numbers, the activation is returned to the textinput immediately. For example, when an input numeric string indicates“110”, switching is automatically performed from the text input to thenumeric input. Further, when a numeric string in which a next numeral isinputted does not correspond to one of the emergency numbers, theactivation is automatically returned to the text input.

Although the screen D25 shows the example in which the six-digit numeralis used for an origination, in reality a more-digit numeral is inputtedto perform an origination operation. Further, although the screen D26shows the case in which the numeric string including an asterisk “*” isused for an origination, how to treat the asterisk “*” depends on thephone terminal. The screen D26 merely shows an example of switching fromthe text input to the numeric input.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure corresponding to the secondoperation example shown in FIG. 6. This processing is implemented bysoftware processing in the control unit 201 of FIG. 3.

After the terminal is turned on, an initial screen is displayed (S31).Then, key input from a user is accepted (S32). If there is key input, itis determined whether a predetermined condition such as theabove-described conditions for determining that the input is numericinput is satisfied (S33).

If the predetermined condition is not satisfied, a text/numeric inputscreen with the display of text conversion candidates such as the screenD22 is displayed (S34). At this time, the focus is set to the text inputarea. If a conversion candidate is selected or confirmed (S35), atext/numeric input screen having text confirmed such as the screen D23is displayed (S36). If there is new key input after that or before theconfirmation, the flow returns to S32. As described above, the screenD23 shows, in the softkey display area, “MENU” for showing actioncandidates relating to functions that can be selected by the user. If“MENU” is selected, a menu screen such as shown in the screen D27 isopened (S37). If “EMAIL CREATION” is selected by the user's operation,the screen moves to an email creation screen (S38). If “WEB SEARCH” isselected, the screen moves to a Web search connection screen (S39). If“ONLINE DICTIONARY” is selected, the screen moves to an onlinedictionary connection screen (S40). If “NOTEPAD STORAGE” is selected,the screen moves to a notepad screen (S41). If “SLOG TRANSMISSION” isselected, the screen moves to a blog site connection screen (S42). If“CONTENT SEARCH” is selected, the screen moves to a data folder searchscreen (S43). If another function is selected, the screen moves toanother screen (not shown) (S44).

At step S36 if a “SWITCHING” operation is performed on the text/numericinput screen where the text input area is active (S51), the screen movesto a text/numeric input screen where the numeric input area is active.On the other hand, if a “SWITCHING” operation is performed on thetext/numeric input screen where the numeric input area is active (S51),the screen moves to the text/numeric input screen where the text inputarea is active.

At step S33 if the condition of numeric input is satisfied, thetext/numeric input screen (D26) where the numeric input area is activeis displayed (S52). If an “ORIGINATION” operation is performed on thisscreen (S53), the screen moves to a call origination screen (S55). If“FUNCTION” is selected, the submenu of “ADDRESS BOOK REGISTRATION” etc.is opened (S54). If “ADDRESS BOOK REGISTRATION” is selected, the screenmoves to an address book registration screen (S56). If another functionis selected, the screen moves to another screen (S57).

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described, itshould be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. Forexample, the user may determine whether or not to select a mode forassigning higher priority to the text input as an initial setting or asetting menu. The invention may be based on such a predetermined modesetting.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information processing apparatus comprising: adisplay unit for displaying information on a display screen; and acontrol unit, wherein the control unit is configured to change a firstscreen displayed on the display unit, which does not provide a textinput function, to a second screen displaying text in a text input areabased upon a user's operation, and wherein the control unit isconfigured to display a first softkey on the display screen thatinitiates a specific application using the displayed text and a secondsoftkey on the display screen that searches for relevant Web sites usingthe displayed text based upon a user operation confirming the displayedtext.
 2. An information processing apparatus comprising: a display unitfor displaying information on a display screen; and a control unit,wherein the control unit is configured to change a first screendisplayed on the display unit, which does not provide a text inputfunction, to a second screen displaying text in a text input area basedupon a user's operation, wherein the second screen displays a conversioncandidate based upon a user's textual input operation, wherein thecontrol unit is configured to display a first softkey on the displayscreen that initiates a specific application using the displayed textand a second softkey on the display screen that searches for relevantWeb sites using the displayed text after the user's textual inputoperation, and wherein the control unit is configured to delete thedisplayed conversion candidate based upon a user operation confirmingthe displayed text.
 3. The information processing apparatus of claim 2,wherein the information processing apparatus is a cellular phoneterminal.
 4. The information processing apparatus of claim 2, whereinthe first screen is a screen that is displayed when the informationprocessing apparatus is turned on.
 5. The information processingapparatus of claim 2, wherein the first softkey is user-operable todisplay a menu of action candidates associated with the displayed text.